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The third and final day of the SHE Media Co-Lab at SXSW closed out with Chelsea Handler, who brought humor and unfiltered honesty to the stage. Handler shared a candid mix of personal stories and career reflections, focusing on themes of self-reliance, resilience, and empowerment. She discussed a transformative experience following a career-defining failure and how it shaped her path to success. Handler spoke about her decision to remain childless by choice, loving her body at 50, and the importance of embracing joy despite political turmoil.

The day also featured a powerful panel with Naomi Watts, who spoke about sex, intimacy, and relationship dynamics in midlife, and what led her to create menopause beauty and wellness brand, Stripes. Christy Turlington Burns shared her passion for reproductive rights and improving global maternal health through her organization, Every Mother Counts.

SHEMedia’s three-day activation at SXSW drew over 6,000 visitors, with linesforming outside the venue, highlighting the strong demand for criticalconversations on women’s health. The interest and engagement in these issues atSXSW, renowned for its focus on innovation and cultural impact, underscored thegrowing importance of advocacy for women’s health and marked a pivotal momentfor these discussions on a global stage.

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Key Quotes from Chelsea Handler:

On being childless by choice: “People think that sinceI don't want children that I hate them. I don't hate children. …I have a lot of children in my life, and I actually have a lot of bandwidth for children because I don't have my own children. So, if I had my own children, I'd probably be a lot more centered on that, but I'm able to give out a lot, and I'm able to make contributions in a bigger way because of being freed up in that way.”

On self-reliance: “I have enough data to show me I'm the one who got me this far. ‘I've got you,’ like, that's what I say to myself all the time. ‘I've got you.’ And I think for me, it's always staying in touch with kind of the little girl. This is what my book opens with as a chapter to my older self as a younger girl, of the kind of woman that I wanted to become like, how did I see myself being in this world? I wanted to be strong. I wanted to be independent. I didn't want to rely on anyone for my money. I wanted to be someone who stood up for something. …And I wanted to show up for people, and so connecting in a helpful way to that essence of who you are as a child, who you are, before the world shits on you and you get your heart broken and you get disappointed. …It's your job to bring her along the way and make sure you don't forget who you are.” 

On an early career disappointment at the Montreal ComedyFestival: “I bombed so badly at the Montreal Comedy Festival the first year I was there, I was like, 27 or 28 years old, I think, … and I ate it big time, and I thought my life was over. Zach Galifianakis walked me to my hotel room and said, ‘You should be alone now. No one can help you.’ Not in a mean way, just like I can't make you feel better. Just deal with this disaster.…Like that was my big break, and I sat in my hotel room and I cried. …I blew my opportunity, and then, literally, 72 hours later, I got another chance to do that set in front of the one executive that didn't see me take it in Montreal, and her name is Grace Wu, and she worked at NBC, and gave me a development deal for my own TV show. So, within 72 hours of me having the biggest disappointment of my professional career, at that time, I had the biggest high of my professional career, 72 hours later. And that is a story that I want everyone to remember. When something goes badly, there are rainbows coming your way always. …I think every failure gets you closer to success.”

On the pressure to conform and being true to oneself despite judgment: “Do you know how many people have told me to stop talking about drugs and alcohol publicly in my life professionally, people have been like, ‘Chelsea, can you simmer down? …No brands are going to want to do deals with you. I'm like, ‘There's a million other stories to tell. I'm an incredible skier. I look incredible. I'm successful. I have all these books. I have all these shows. What are you talking about? Tell another story.’ So, I switched agencies, and guess what? I have tons of brand deals. …So, we all need to broaden our thinking a lot around that area, and we are all too judgmental.”

On having her best body at 50: “I have the body I wanted when I was 20, and I’m 50. So everyone, you have something to look forward to. It all comes together in your 40s and 50s.”

On the new Trump presidency: “I went through a lot of darkness and pain and ugliness during the last time we had this President. I'm not doing that again. You don’t get to steal my joy, you don’t get to steal my happiness.”

About SHE Media: 

As a top 10 lifestyle media company reaching 74+ million monthly visitors, SHE Media focuses on the power of content and community to move our culture forward. SHE Media believes that media companies can and should be a force for good in the world.The company’s rich editorial ranges from health, food, and family to career and entertainment. SHE Media’s flagship brands, SheKnows, Flow Space, StyleCaster, Soaps, and TVLine, produce award-winning lifestyle content and events that reflect the passion and purpose of the company. In addition to the flagship brands, the SHE Media Collective supports thousands of independent publishers and content creators with technology, education, and monetization opportunities to grow their businesses.

SHE Media has a longstanding commitment to the advancement of equity and inclusion through media. In 2021, SHE Media launched Meaningful Marketplaces enabling advertisers to buy media at scale from a community of women and minority-owned publishers, ensuring that independent media receives the economic support to thrive. SHE Media is also dedicated to advancing women’s health. In 2023, SHE Media launched Flow Space, an all-new digital and live media platform providing content, community, and commerce in service of women’s whole life health. Part of Penske Media Corporation (PMC), SHE Media is based in New York, with offices in Los Angeles. Follow SHE Media on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X.

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SOCIALMEDIA

@SHEMedia| #WholeLifeHealth

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Press Contact:

Penske Media Corporation / SHE Media

Abby Kalicka, akalicka@pmc.com

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